American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

We mourn the loss of Joseph V. Simone, MD, a former member of the AACR Board of Directors who died January 21 at the age of 85. Dr. Simone who was an AACR member for 48 years was deeply involved with national efforts to improve the quality of cancer care and was a leader of several of the nation’s preeminent cancer centers. We offer heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. https://bit.ly/39Mg2sv

The AACR proudly supports World Cancer Day, a global effort to raise awareness and encourage individuals to take action against cancer. Take the Get Informed About Cancer Challenge and learn more about #cancerresearch on our website: https://bit.ly/3pVsnjS

We are pleased to announce the recipients of our 2020 AACR-Novocure Career Development Awards for Tumor Treating Fields Research: Drs. Narasimha Kumar Karanam and Chirag B. Patel. With generous support from Novocure, these researchers will determine the therapeutic potential of combining TTFields with CDK-Rb-E2F axis inhibitors in lung and pancreatic cancer models, and characterize the dynamics of TTField-induced glioblastoma cell membrane permeabilization.

Deadline: October 30. We invite Competitive Letters of Intent for the AACR-John and Elizabeth Leonard Family Foundation Basic Cancer Research Fellowship. This two-year, $120,000 grant encourages and supports postdoctoral or clinical fellow to establish a successful cancer research career path. Research proposed for funding may be in any area of basic cancer research. Learn more: https://bit.ly/35rh0Hg

While the incidence of cancer in the U.S. is decreasing overall, the incidence of liver cancer has been increasing in recent decades. For Liver Cancer Awareness Month, we highlight how the Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of hepatitis viruses have helped to shape liver cancer prevention. Read more on the blog: https://bit.ly/2IWjR3n

Resistance to immune checkpoint inhibition is common, but the underlying mechanisms of resistance remain unclear. In a recent study, AACR Fellow and Nobel Laureate Gregg Semenza, MD, PhD, and his colleagues uncovered a novel mechanism by which hypoxia may contribute to treatment resistance in some cancers. https://bit.ly/3ocfx03

For three years in a row, Fellows of the AACR Academy have been awarded a Nobel Prize in a scientific field. The AACR Academy serves as a brain trust of scientific expertise, providing insight and guidance to the AACR as the organization pursues its mission to prevent and cure all cancers. Read more on the #AACRBlog. #AACRFellows https://bit.ly/3m78N1s

We are pleased to announce the recipients of our 2020 AACR-Novocure Tumor Treating Fields Research Grants: Drs. Carsten Hagemann, Sandeep Mittal, Debabrata Saha, David D. Tran, and Christopher Douglas Willey. With generous support from Novocure, these researchers will characterize different mechanisms of response and resistance to Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) and explore additional TTField clinical applications, including combination with existing therapies.

Measuring the pre-treatment levels of tumor DNA in the circulatory system of patients with #melanoma may predict responses to first-line -- but not second-line immunotherapy, according to results published in the AACR journal Clinical Cancer Research. https://bit.ly/2Tcb2UI

We are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2020 AACR-QuadW Foundation Fellowship for Clinical/Translational Sarcoma Research, Dr. Jenna M. Gedminas. With generous support from the QuadW Foundation, Dr. Gedminas aims to target the main oncogenic fusion, EWS-WT1, found in desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT), through lurbinectedin and novel combination therapies. This work will be a major step forward for this rare soft tissue sarcoma, as there is currently no effective standard of care.

We are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2020 AACR-Pfizer Breast Cancer Research Fellowship: Dr. Yudan Chi. With the generous support of Pfizer, Dr. Chi seeks to molecularly dissect the mechanism whereby lipocalin-2 mediates leptomeningeal metastasis.

We are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2020 AACR-Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation Research Fellowship, Dr. Laura Sipe. With the generous support of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, Dr. Sipe seeks to identify novel genetic modifiers of TNBC risk and aggression.

A method for detecting bladder cancer that involves analyzing DNA isolated from cells in urine is more effective than urine cytology, according to a study published in the AACR journal Clinical Cancer Research. https://bit.ly/3dsSf0O

We invite applications for the AACR Clinical Oncology Research (CORE) Training Fellowships. These one-year, $100,000 fellowships provide an effective industry-academic clinical practicum with a unique training opportunity to develop academic clinicians in drug development. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3j1ci7E

We are pleased to announce the 2020 AACR-AstraZeneca Breast Cancer Research Fellowship recipients, Dr. Monish Ram Makena and Dr. Naiara Perurena. These researchers were selected by AACR on the merits of their submissions, and will elucidate on mechanisms of treatment resistance in different breast cancer subtypes. We look forward to following their research progress and career development, and we thank AstraZeneca for its partnership on this program.